UFC fighters Denise Gomes, Jessica Andrade, and Karol Rosa have formed the GAEA Project, an all-women’s MMA team in Brazil aimed at providing a supportive training environment for female athletes, following their previous team’s closure.
UFC fighters Denise Gomes, Jessica Andrade, and Karol Rosa have teamed up to launch a groundbreaking all-women’s MMA team in Brazil. Their mission? To spark change and create a more supportive environment for female athletes.
Gomes is gearing up for a showdown against former UFC title contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Vegas 100 in Las Vegas this Saturday. She shared that the GAEA Project was born in Sao Paulo, driven by a need to provide better training conditions for women. After all, some experiences are best left in the past—no athlete should endure them.
The initiative aims to offer women the freedom to train correctly and with dignity. The trio, once part of PRVT, found themselves without a home base after their coach and manager, Gilliard Parana, retired. In a twist of fate, Andrade plans to take legal action against Parana.
“The truth is, our previous team ended and we kind of had no place else to go,” Andrade explained. Sticking together through thick and thin, they decided to forge their own path with like-minded individuals.
GAEA Project operates as a non-profit, focusing on empathy and cooperation. It empowers female athletes by allowing them to train without leaving their original teams. This creates opportunities for women to prepare for fights while supporting full-time GAEA members.
Gomes’ upcoming strawweight clash with Kowalkiewicz marks GAEA Project’s first UFC assignment. She’s eager to improve her record to 4-2 after her June victory over Eduarda Moura. Meanwhile, Kowalkiewicz is looking to bounce back from her recent loss to Iasmin Lucindo.
“It’s a privilege to be here [fighting Kowalkiewicz],” Gomes said. She respects Kowalkiewicz’s legacy but is determined to carve out her own story. Confident in both her striking and grappling skills, Gomes is ready to face whatever comes her way in the octagon.